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Max Verstappen says Red Bull are “confused” by the FIA’s initial ADUO rankings that put the team’s new power unit at the top and therefore limit further development, with Red Bull asking the FIA to take another look at the data. Verstappen said: "We just feel surprised because we don't feel like we are the best. So yes, in a way of course we are proud. We're just a bit confused with suddenly being portrayed as the best because we don't feel like that."
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli says there are still "questions" about how far he can go, despite opening a 66-point championship lead after six races. Antonelli said: "There are questions that still need to be answered on my side - how much further I can go in a short period of time, how much I can push myself even further and how much I can grow and how big is the potential?"
Kimi Antonelli says enjoying every Formula 1 weekend and driving without self-doubt has been a “big factor” in his performances this season, ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Antonelli said: "One thing I said to myself at the start of the year is try and enjoy as much as possible all the weekends, all the times I go in the car. I feel like when I do so, I'm able to extract and maximise my performance so it's been a helpful factor. Also [it] helps me drive relaxed and not as tense as I was last year. That's definitely playing a big factor."
Lewis Hamilton said it was “definitely a surprise” to hear Red Bull Powertrains had been judged as Formula 1’s best engine in the FIA’s ADUO evaluation process, after he discussed the outcome in Monaco before any official FIA announcement. Hamilton said: "It is definitely a surprise, because the Red Bull and Mercedes engines are very, very close. Red Bull has done an amazing job with their engine, but so has Mercedes, and I heard there was someone who went from Mercedes to Red Bull. They've done something that no one thought they'd do in such a short space of time as a new engine manufacturer, and fair play to them."
Charles Leclerc says he will switch to the Carbone Industrie brake discs Lewis Hamilton has been using as he tries to solve the braking confidence issues he has been battling at recent races ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Leclerc said: "I think it's clear now that we are probably going to change a little bit the configuration. How much it will change? I still have to test it and to see how much it will change. I don't expect a revolution, however, in some particular cases, I expect it to be easier to manage. I will see tomorrow and see how it feels."
Nico Hulkenberg said George Russell backing up the field at the red-flag restart in Monaco created the “chaos” that led to his contact with Carlos Sainz, for which he was later given a 10-second penalty. Hulkenberg said: "I watched the replay. For me, it all starts with George backing up the whole field, trying to create a gap for his penalty, which obviously creates a mess and chaos and, especially Monaco, cars are tripping over each other."
Nico Hulkenberg says the FIA should introduce a rule to stop teams backing up the field at the Monaco Grand Prix, describing the tactic as “not really sporting”. Hulkenberg said: "For Monaco going forward, the FIA should come up with some sort of a rule that this backing-up strategy is not allowed anymore, because it's just painful. It's not really sporting-wise. Now, as it was Sunday, obviously, there was nothing wrong with that and any team would have done exactly the same. But I feel going forward it should be, if possible, avoided."
🟢 Fernando Alonso on his motivation: “Motivation, not a big change as I understand how this sport works and how everything is. You need the right package and you need to work around your team. Motivation is still there because I believe in myself, I have full trust in what I am able to do. In the same machinery as any other driver in the world, I never felt uncompetitive.” On a message to the Spanish fans: “It's going to be a special weekend, probably my last Barcelona race in Formula 1 so thanks to everyone. I will not be competitive and I will not be long in Q1, but hopefully everyone can enjoy the weekend. I think it is my 23rd here, the fans have always been magical.” On whether this could be his final Barcelona race: “For me, the hardest thing is to not win races and not be competitive. If this is the last or not is not affecting too much, I am at peace with my career. I achieve a lot more than I ever dreamt when I was a kid.” ⚪ Ollie Bearman on Haas’ Monaco pace: “We were definitely in the battle for points, maybe on a par with Liam sitting next to me in a normal Qualifying let’s say. Unfortunately I then had an issue on the brakes and had to retire the car. But after a bad Quali, you can’t really come back at all.” 🔵 Liam Lawson on his development in F1: “I think you always learn and get better, so I’m in a better place than I have been for a couple of years. But the way I came into the sport was pretty unique, coming in the back end of two seasons. Last year was very rocky, this year with new cars, we have done a good job. I’ve learned a lot and felt I have been able to put that into use this year. I don’t think it is anything specific, just experience honestly.” 🔵 Franco Colapinto on feeling more comfortable in the Alpine: “Generally feel more comfortable in the car, feel like we are going in the right direction. We found some steps that put me in a better place, so I feel more connected with the car.”
⚪️ Kimi Antonelli on Mercedes' Canada upgrade package: “It will be an interesting weekend for us as we’ll see how the package we brought to Canada will work, as we didn’t see fully in Canada with the temperature being so cold.” “So, we’ll see how the package works and how much it gives us in lap time. Ferrari has new bits this weekend, so they will be up there and McLaren will be strong too as it is a high deg track, very hot and Miami was similar - and they were very strong.” On why he has improved this season: “A lot has changed - the experience first of all. You know better the track evolution, how the weekend pans out, you can balance your energy in a better way. But also you become more aware of your potential, you know the team even better so the bond gets stronger. “So, all little things that play a massive role. As for the Championship, not really worrying about it. I know the opportunity that is on the table, and of course I want to make the best out of it.” On whether he imagined leading the Championship: “Of course not. Definitely if you would have told me two years go, I would have told you you were crazy. But I am happy to be in this position, happy and glad for the opportunity afforded to me and to the team, as the car this year has been incredible.” 🔵 Carlos Sainz on Williams’ prospects in Barcelona: “In Monaco we had a solid weekend but did not manage to bring the points home. Barcelona will be a more frustrating weekend for us, Williams are known for having a weak [weekend] here at this track. It is a good opportunity to see where our weaknesses lie.” On whether Williams can score points: “I think we can [score points] here, but it will take everything to get them. We are improving every single weekend so hopefully if we can improve another tiny bit we will be in the hunt for points.”
Fernando Alonso says he is “at peace” with the prospect his Formula 1 career could be coming to an end, as he suggested this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will probably be his last F1 race at Barcelona. Alonso said: "For me, the hardest thing is not to win races and be competitive. If it's the last, or not the last, it's not affecting too much. I'm at peace with my career and my life and if anything comes now, [it's] welcome. If it doesn't come, it doesn't change my feeling."
Sergio Perez said he went “over” the limit with his grid positioning at the Monaco Grand Prix as he accepted responsibility for the penalty that dropped him from 10th on the road and cost Cadillac a first Formula 1 point. Perez said: "But obviously I take the responsibility, and at the same time, when you operate so much on the limit as a driver, I've had good starts because I maximise every single centimetre, I try to keep my tyres as warm as possible, that means that I do my burnouts as close as possible to the [grid] box, so I put everything down to every centimetre and to the limit, and I went over it a bit."
Kimi Antonelli says he began to doubt his Formula 1 future during his rookie season with Mercedes in 2025 as rumours circulated about a possible move to Alpine or Williams. Antonelli said: "At one point in the season things on track weren't going the way I wanted. On top of that, rumours started circulating about a possible move to Alpine or Williams - rumours that were never denied. In situations like that, doubts inevitably arise, and there's a risk of falling into a negative spiral."
Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Management and the FIA have been granted a direct “leapfrog” appeal to the UK Supreme Court in Felipe Massa’s $82m damages case over 2008’s Singapore “Crashgate”, Sky reports. Massa is suing on the basis that the race was manipulated and that F1 and the FIA should have voided the result, which he says cost him the 2008 title. The move gives the defendants a direct route to challenge the High Court ruling that Massa’s conspiracy claim can proceed to trial.
Honda trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara says the FIA’s latest Formula 1 engine rule changes are a “reasonable step” after it adjusted the planned power output split for 2027 and 2028. Orihara said: "It is hard to say. I would say that our target is to get more engine power, but I would say that [the rule changes announced by the FIA] is a reasonable step for the power unit side."
Honda Racing trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara said Honda’s view of the FIA’s ADUO assessment is “kind of similar”, after the manufacturer was allocated the maximum two upgrade opportunities under the scheme. Orihara said: "Kind of similar, I think. RBPT did a great job, I respect what they have done. The FIA, the number we received from FIA is quite fair."
Alpine has cleared the first hurdle in its Right of Review bid over Pierre Gasly’s two penalties from the Monaco Grand Prix, with the FIA stewards ruling both petitions admissible and accepting that a “significant and relevant new element” was unavailable at the time of the original decisions (documents 73 and 75). The stewards said FOM evidence that the distance used for the official pitlane speed calculation was inaccurate was enough to meet the “significant” test, triggering a second-stage hearing to decide whether the penalties should be overturned.
Pierre Gasly says being demoted from third to seventh in the Monaco Grand Prix because of two five-second pit-lane speeding penalties was “the hardest day” of his Formula 1 career, with Alpine seeking a Right of Review from the FIA. Gasly said: "I think to me it's fair to say this was the hardest day I've ever had in F1, and in my sport career. You know, I'm talking sporting wise, not, you know, 2019, with Anthoine [Hubert], etc. So sporting wise, I would say it was definitely the hardest to deal with, because put in a very strong performance."
Pierre Gasly said he was aware of the pit-lane speeding penalties that dropped him off the Monaco Grand Prix podium, and that his celebrations after finishing third on the road were down to emotions rather than being kept in the dark by Alpine. Gasly said: "I was aware at that time [of the penalty], it's just running extremely high on emotions after a perfectly executed race. I was really proud of the performance we had with the team, and crossing the line in third, which should be awarded with the podium, and it was my way of having my moment. That's how I wanted to deal with the situation, to share any type of emotion I had."
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